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HomeMy WebLinkAboutHistorical Records - Miscellaneous (34) Members of the Press, we appreciate your attendance at this news conference. This news conference has been called to clear up mislead- ing statements and confusion concerning the Oro Valley incorp- oration. Ladies and gentlemen, the residents of Oro Valley are in favor of the incorporation. Here, briefly, is a history'' df the incorporation move. In March, 1970, an excess of 81% of the real property taxpayers within a 2.5 square mile area petitioned the Pima County Board of Supervisors for permission to incorporate as a town to be known as "Oro Valley, Arizona. " The Board of Supervisors ignored the desire of the people of this area and denied the petition to incorpdrate not on the grounds that Oro Valley would constitute a n6w municipality which would have a voice in metropolitan government nor on the grounds that Oro Valley could not provide the services. The denial was based on the supervisors ' belief that the area did not cnnstitute a "community". The only objections to the incorp- oration of Oro Valley were voiced by officials of the City of Tucson, namely: Tucson's then city attorney, Lewis Murphy, Enos Schaeffer and Roger O'Mara. The area residents then took their case to Superior Court, Final County, Ji.dge Mahoney presid ing, December, 1972. Judge Mahoney ruled for the residents and ordered the supervisors to allow town of Oro Valley to incorporate. This was called a "minute decision" because the judge had not yet signed it. He had a heart attack and could not sign it until the following July. In that little meantime, the city of Tucson .annexed one. or two blocks to bring it closer than six miles to boundary of town of Oro Valley. And with that annexation the city of Tucson and the county took the case to Appellate Court. The court reversed Judge Mahoney. The residents then took the case to the state Supreme Court. The five judges unanimously ruled the supervisors must incorpor- ate the town of Oro Valley--that on every point of law the town met the requirements. Shortly thereafter (Feb. 11, 1974) the city and, county ased the state Supreme Court to rehear the case . _ _ _ • .4 , Their final move could he ii.S. Supreme Court. The members of the Oro Valley Incorporation Committee resolved not to make any comment on the matter while in litigation- But now, after four years, after the Supreme Court of Arizona has affirmed the trial court decision that the residents of the area are entitled to incorporate , the incorporation effort has come under attack from city and county officials. , 1 These attacks are largely bed on misinformation. And some statementshave been just• plain false and untrue. Several facts should he made clear. I) Incorporation of the proposed town of Oro Valley will - NOT impose additional taxes on the residents of the area. But annexation by the city of Tucson would automatically impose : a ) Prpperty tax b) City, sales tax of 2% 2) Incorporation of town o;of Oro Valley promotes citizens ' participation in government. There would be one council member . for every approximately 200 reSidents. The local residents would participate in all zoning rulings and hearings. The local • residents would, among other matters , establish speed limits in their town and would, in general, be directly involved with the management of their town. 3) Services will not he decreased and will probably, in fact, increase. 4) The town of Oro Valley would derive revenue from state sales taxes, auto lieu taxes , gasoline taxes and a proportion- ate amount of state income taxes , amounting to approximately $55.00 per capita per year. The residents of the town of Oro Valley are currently paying these taxes and the incorporation will give them a voice in how the money is spent. Revenue from the above will 'be sufficient to maintain services at their current level or to improve the current services. 5) There will not be a flood of new incorporated communities because of the six-mile limitation and 1500 population requirement. 6) Notwithstanding the unsupported accusation of officials , a vast majority of the residents of the area are in favor of in- corporation. A random poll of :565 residents indicates that in excess of 78% of the residents of the proposed town of Oro Valley are in. facor of incorporation.